reynolds



6 Sheets- Sheet 1.

REYNOLDS. P'NEUMATIG CANNON.

(No Model.)

Patented Peb. 171, 1890.

M Y W @Ui/meow@ (No Model.) 6 Sheets-fsheet 2.

' G.' ENREYNOLDS.

1 PNBUMATIG CANNON. No. 421,311. Patented Feb. 11,1890.

@sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

G. H. REYNOLDS.

PNEUMATIC CANNON Patient@ 1610.11, 1890.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4. G. 11. REYNOLDS.

PNEUMATIG CANNON.

110.421,311. Patented Feb.11,1890.

Q @fl/wanton @515, @wrom/LW MSM M www@ Mfg/m@ N. PETERS. Phnm-Liihngnphr, washinglun. D. (IA

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

G. H. REYNOLDS.

PNBUMATIG CANNON.

110.421,311. PfeLtented Peb. 11,1890.

@XX/imam@ 1 n 1 54400/31001 (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

y G. H. REYNOLDS.

y PNBUMATIG ANNoN. N0.m421,311. Patented Feb. l1, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE H. REYNOLDS, OF NEWv YORK, N. Y.

PNEUMATIC CANNON.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 421,311, dated February 11, 1890.

' Application led July 29, 1889. Serial No. 319,024. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. REYNOLDS, of the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements relating to Pneumatic Cannon, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is intended more especially for cannon operated by compressed air of high tension and adapted to throw large projectiles containing high explosives; but it may be carried out with a wide range of slzes and of various proportions, and may serve with other gases than atmospheric air, and the pressure of the gas may be induced b y other means than mechanical compression.

The objects sought are simplicity and economy of construction, and convenience, certainty, and effectiveness of operation. I h ave been Fguided to this by years of` experience and practical application of the principles on which such ordnance should be constructed. l

I will use the word firing in its technical sense as used by military men to define the act of discharging the gun, although in this gun there is no ignition of powder or other combustibles. I will use the word air to designate the large volumes of gas under pressure employed to impel the projectile, and the word oil7 to designate the liquid employed in small quantities with an excess of pressure in the packings, although various other liquids, as water with glycerine, may in practice be substituted.

What I consider the best means of carrying out the invention are fully described below and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. There are six sheets of the drawings.

Figure 1 represents the gun and the mechanism for operating it in side elevation with the loading-carriage in position to introduce a projectile. In this figure the gun is trained in a plane parallel to the air-reservoirs. Fig.`

2 is a plan view of one end of the gun-carriage, showing the hydraulic motor for training the gun and the ram for elevating it, and Fig. 3 1s an end View of mechanism provided to elevate the gun by hand, showingI also the motor for training. Fig. tis a plan View of the gun with vits carriage and the loadingcarriage. In this figure the gun has been trainedin a plane across the firing-reservoirs. Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of the pintle, showing the two ducts-one for conveying hydraulic pressure from the stationary parts of the system to operate the machinery for training and elevating the. gun, the other allowing -the return of the oil or other liquid after having performed this service. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line @c in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a front view of one of the nozzles on the pintle. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in Vertical section, showing the mechanism for training and elevating the gun; and Fig. 9 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of the same. Fig. l0 is a vertical section of the pintle, showing a modification, the pintle being constructed with the hydraulic ducts ex'a tending through its center. Fig. 11 is an end elevation, partly in section; and Fig. 12 is a plan view, certain portions being removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all. the figures where they occur.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the central pintle, which is securely fastened by bolts to a substantial foundation. (See Fig. l.) It consists of a single hollow casting with liberal apertures containing .the following features: rst, as a suiicient and firm center around which the gun trains, receiving the recoil of t-he gun; secondly, as a passage for the air under heavy pressure from the firingreservoirs to the gun, and in this respect it is so constructed that the strains resulting from this pressure are selfcontained, it being closed at the top and bottom; and, thirdly, serving also for the passage to and fro of the motive fluid from the stationary to the movable parts of the apparatus. The air enters from the tiring-reservoirs by the two nozzles A and issues from it through a number of openings CL, which being made around the circumference of the pintle, the pressure is balanced in all directions. To receive the recoil of the gun, the pintle is provided with a heavy flange Aire-enforced by ribs around IOO it. The pintle is also constructed with ducts a a2 for the passage to and from the gun of the oil or other fiuid under pressure, by which the gun is trained and elevated. Encircling the upper portion of this pintle and resting on an annular flange D* thereof is a castingl call the yoke B, carrying t-he gun and carriage. The center opening of this yoke is bored to a Working fit upon the pintle. It is provided with a belt h, into which the air passes from the pintle through the openings af. and from this belt the air passes by two nozzles B on opposite sides of the yoke, thus relieving the parts from any unbalanced strain. The yoke is provided with flanges B2 for attachment to the longitudinal framing of the gun-carriage, which consists of two heavy channel-bars B3. The yoke, with its loa-d, is capable of turning in a complete circle around the pintle and the iiow of air is not obstructed 'by this movement, the openings in the pintle being at all times in full communication with the belt. Securely bolted to this yoke are the trunnion-blocks B4. Each trunnion-block consists, mainly, of a pipe h of suitable diameter, rising from the yoke to the guntrunnion, supported by ribs and iianges sufficient to resist the recoil when the gun is fired. To receive the trunnions ofthe gun, the pipes swell into and terminate in chambers b2, bored to fit them.

At the breech of the gun the barrel D is embraced within the tiringvalve casing DG, which, with the breech-block, is bolted to a heavy flange cast upon the barrel a little forward from the breech.

. the channel-bars-of the carriage, and B8 the bearing for the shaft, P being the pinion workin g into the stationary internally-toothed wheel.

To elevate the gun to the required angle for attaining the range desired for the projectile, I use a hydraulic ram, (marked Q R in Fig. l and plan view, Fig. 2, of same sheet.) lt consists of a barrel Q, trunnioned at the lower end, where it is carried by two trunnions Q in bearings Q4, bolted to the channel-bars B3. lNithin this barrel is a ram R, having one end formed into a fork, each end of which its into a bearing D13, securely bolted .to the channel-bars D3, which constitute the truss for the barrel. The lower end of the ram R is formed into a piston workin inthe barrel Q and provided with cup-leather packing. The liquid-pressure for actuating thisram is introduced through one of the trunnions Q.

In order to convey the motive fluid from the stationary parts of the system to the motors for training and elevating the gun, which revolves with it, I have devised a system of ducts, pipes, valves, and controlling-levers.` Fig. 5 shows the method of uniting the sta-A tionary ducts, containing live and exhaust pressures, in the pintle with pipes that revolve with the gun and convey the motive fluid to and from the valve-ducts, from whence they are distributed. A* is a portion of the pintle, on each side of which a duct is formed, either by coring or boring through the solid part of the pintle, avoiding the openings a, which are made through the side of the pintle for the transmission of air, a being the duct for the live pressure, and a2 that for the exhaust-pressure, the arrangement of these ducts being shown also in Fig. 2, which is a plan view in section of the pintle. From the upper ends of each of these openings stationary pipes a3 are led to a chest A5, which is in the exact axis of the movable parts ofthe system. This chestA5 is .so constructed as to receive the pipes that revolve with the gun and secure them by suitable packing against leakage. The central pipe h6 conveys the oil upward under pressure, and a larger passage b5, surrounding the central pipe b, conveys the exhaust-pressure downward.

The upper portion of the central pipe is shown at h6 in Figs. 8 and 9,- from which it branches by two pipes 197 bs to the valvechests P5 Q5, where its tlow is controlled by valves P'1 Q4, (shown in section on Fig. 8,) which valves are moved by hand-levers P2 Q2, working against a quadrant D19. The lever Q2 moves the valve Q4, that admits pressure to or allows exhaust from the elevatingram Q R, and P2 is the lever by which pressure or exhaust may be made to operate alternately to actuate the driving-motor P in either direction. These levers, when placed in the center of their movement on the quadrant D19, bring to a lstop the elevating and training mechanism.

On Sheet et the training-lever P2 is shown at that end of its movement Where it brings the valve P1 into such a position that it allows pressure to iiow through the pipe p and exhaust to return along the pipe p', and so revolve the motor P as to turn the gun.

Shift-ing the training-lever P2 to the opposite extreme of its motion reverses the valve P4 and sends the pressure through the pipe p and allows the exhaust to return through the pipe p, so revolving the motor Pin the opposite direction with the opposite effect en the turning of the gun.

The lever Q2 for elevating the gun is shown at that end of its movement which allows the pressure to act upon the elevating-ram Q R and raise the gun. When shifted to the other end of its movement, it allows the motive iiuid to return. along the samepipe q, and the valve QA1 directs it into the exhaust- IOO IIO

pipe to the exhaust-duct a2 of the pintlc, the valve being single acting. These valvechests P5 Q5 are suitably connected by pipes p3, g3, and b9 to the. outer pipe b5, concentric to the axis of the pintle.

Fig. 10 shows a modification of the pintle, in which the ducts for the live and exhaust pressures are in the center.

I form a vertically-adjustable support for the gun-barrel independent of the elevatingram. This consists of a shaft S, carrying two worms, which operate wheels V', Figs. l and 3, the hubs of which are fitted into a yoke U, resting in suitable bearings B9 on each side of the frame. These worm-wheels serve as nuts for two strong screws V, the upper ends of which support the channel-bar truss Dit. The shaft S is adjusted in bearings, so that the Worms act upon the wheels V. Cranks S at each end of the shaft, are worked by men standing at the forward end of the platform of the gun.

The screws of this apparatus when not in use are turned down to a low point, and then form a rest for the gun-barrel with its truss when the same is level. The screws are shown in this position in Fig. l; or they may be, if preferred, kept at such a height as to form a support at the loading angle.` This also forms a convenient means of elevating the gun-barrel byv hand in case of accident to the elevating-ram.

The reservoirs for holding the compressed air and for firing the gun, which I call the ming-reservoirs, are preferably placed as near the gun as possible. I have arranged them in two groups AG Av7 exactly opposite each other and connected by manifolds AS and suitable pipes A to the pintle. Vhen the gun is fired, the pressure in all the airspaces is reduced instantly, the base of the recoil being on the outer ends of the reservoirs A(i A7, the effort, although balanced so far as the pintle is concerned, tending to rend the connections apart.

I connect the two groups of flring-resern voirs to each other by strong tie-bars A10, connecting the ends of the manifolds A, that being the most favorable position for them in such an arrangement as I have shown. These tie-bars take up the entire recoil due to the release of part of the pressure in the iiring reservoirs and relieve the pintle and pipes of the strains that would act upon them in con sequence of this recoil.

There might be situations in which four or six groups of iiring-reservoirs would be convenient, or the gun might be entirely surrounded by reservoirs of compressed air; but in all such cases the same recoil would tend to break the connections of the reservoirs with the pintle, and the employment of the bars uniting the opposite reservoirs or groups of them, as the case might be, effectively guards against undue strains upon the apparatus.

As it is desirable to be able to load the gun at any point of the circle to which it may be trained, I have provided a circular track at such a'distance from the training center as will bring the projectile, mounted on a suitable carriage, into the proper position for introduction into the gun-barrel. This track is shown in plan in Fig. 4, its rails being there marked A, and in sectional elevation bythe like letters in Fig. l.

The projectile carriage 'I is made with wheels of proper diameters to roll easily and naturally on this circular track, and is provided with a trough t for safely holding the projectile, and with a ram T running on slides and worked by chains ruiming over sprocket-wheels for pushing the projectiles steadily and without shock into the barrel of the gun.

The sprocket-wheels are attach ed to or cast with gear-wheels, the latter being operated from a pinion-shaft running from side to side of the carriage and turned by cranks in the hands of the men engaged in loading the gun.

In the drawings I have shown the projectilecarriage constructed for loading the gun at an angle of eight degrees. This enables the carriage to be lower than it would be if the gun were brought to level for loading.

The several devices set forth herein for training and loading are not dedicated to the free use of the public, but are made the subject of two applications for Letters Patent to be made as divisions of this application. Matters set forth but not claimed herein are claimed in an application by nie for United States Patent filed March 16, 1889, Serial No. 303,218, the loading in No. 319,025, and the hollow pintleand its connections in No. 303,218,

and another of even date herewith, Serial No. 309,025.

I claim as my inventionm l. In combination with a gun arranged to turn on a central axis, a multiple-cylinder hydraulic motor attached to and moving with the carriage, and mechanism between the motor and gun for elevating the latter, and mechanism between the motor and axis for training the gun horizontally, as set forth.

2. The combination of the stationary horizontal geared track A4 and the pinion P', meshing therewith and fixed on a shaft supported in the carriage, the multiple-cylinder hydraulic motor on the carriage and driving said pinion, the carriage being supported on the track, and the gun supported on the carriage, as set forth.

3. In a pneumatic gun, the hydraulic ram Q It, trunnioned at its lower end upon a revolving carriage, its upper end being connectedwith the gun, in combination with the gun-barrel arranged to be elevated by said ram, and the multiple-cylinder hydraulic m0- tor on. the carriage for operating the ram, as sot forth.

TOO

IIO

4. In zt pneumatic gun, the combination, July, 1889, in the presence of two subscribing with the gun and the hydraulic ram for e1e- Witnesses.

Vating the same of a vertically-adjustable support for the giln independent of the ram, GEO' H REYNOLDS' 5 as set forth. vVitnessesz In testimony whereof I have hereunto set JAMES M. TULLY,

my hand, :tt New York city, this 24th day of CHARLES R. SEARLE. 

